| Along the Florida Panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico | | | | "Mission Accomplished " speech. |
| you'll find the city of Pensacola. Pensacola is part of a | | | | The waterways have always been an important part |
| stretch of Florida loving called the 'Redneck Rivera' by | | | | of life in Pensacola from the early years when the |
| the locals and in a way this is very true. Not only will | | | | Spanish built Fort San Carlos de Barrancas to watch |
| you find some great upscale shops and restaurants | | | | over the bay to the fishing fleets that bring in the |
| but you can also kick back and relax on sugar white | | | | fresh fish and gulf shrimp caught in the waters of the |
| sand beaches as you stare out at the emerald green | | | | Bay and Gulf here. |
| waters of the Gulf or you can charter a fishing boat | | | | Pensacola is also a sea port that connects Pensacola |
| and try to catch one of the many species of fish | | | | Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. So the sunsets enjoy |
| that swim in the waters around there. The sunsets | | | | some of the freshest seafood you'll ever eat at one |
| along the Gulf Coast are some of the most | | | | of the many waterfront restaurants. |
| spectacular you'll ever see, one of the best places to | | | | Fishing in Pensacola, as in most of Florida, is good |
| see a sunset is on one of the many piers dotted | | | | year round. It's not unusual for the local restaurants |
| along the water here. It's a great place to just relax | | | | to offer selections caught the night before such as |
| and take some time to unwind and speaking of time | | | | snapper, grouper, tuna and wahoo. In the early |
| you'll have to be sure to set your watch to Central | | | | summer months the shrimp boats come in offering |
| Standard time because Pensacola is the western | | | | their 'fruit of the sea' - shrimp much to the delight of |
| most city in the Florida Panhandle and just past the | | | | locals and tourist alike. If you prefer to catch your |
| divide into Central Standard Time Zone, the rest of | | | | own dinner you can book one of the many charter |
| Florida is on Eastern Standard Time. | | | | boats to take you fishing inshore for redfish, cobia or |
| Pensacola has a rich history. It is known as 'The City | | | | pompano, offshore charters can take you fishing for |
| of Five Flags' because, at one time or another, it has | | | | the wahoo, mahi mahi and blue marlin. |
| been under the control of five different governments | | | | Families can plan a week there, of course there's the |
| including the Confederacy. When the Spanish | | | | beach where you can lay on the sand all day or play |
| controlled it they called it Panzacola which was the | | | | volleyball on the shore or build a sandcastle in the |
| Indian name, when the French had control it was | | | | surf. You can go out in a boat where you can fish |
| Pensacolle, it became permanently known as | | | | snorkel or go for a dive and if you don't care to do |
| Pensacola when the English took it in 1763. | | | | any of that you can rent a sailboat, or get a canoe |
| You can relive the days of WWII and view the | | | | or kayak and explore a river or one of the rare dune |
| some of the most famous aircraft used to defend | | | | lakes in the area. When you're out on the water in |
| our nation then - the Corsair, Dauntless and Hellcat. | | | | the Florida sun don't forget the sunblock, you can still |
| You can also relive that first lunar landing in 1969 as | | | | get a tan without frying yourself. If you'd like to get |
| you walk through their recreation of the event. | | | | away from the water all together there are many |
| You can also take in a little history when you visit the | | | | shops to explore both 'mainstream' and quaint little |
| Naval Air Station there and tour the Lighthouse, Fort | | | | local shops that offer unique Florida style gifts and |
| Barrancas or relive the glory days of Naval Aviation | | | | trinkets. If you'd like to combined a day at the beach |
| at their spectacular museum. The Pensacola Naval Air | | | | with shopping visit the Quietwater Beach Boardwalk, |
| Station, also called the cradle of Aviation, is home of | | | | a local favorite spot. At night you can enjoy one of |
| the world renown Blue Angels and the Aviation | | | | several restaurants there, some of which feature live |
| Museum there is not to be missed. | | | | music certain nights of the week. If you'd like, you |
| The National Naval Aviation Museum includes the | | | | can make it a family night at a one of the may |
| history of not only the Navy but the Marines and | | | | Putt-Putt golf courses, go see a movie or stop in a |
| Coast Guard as well. Believe it or not this place rivals | | | | local ice cream shop. |
| the Smithsonian. It has nearly 300,000 square feet of | | | | Pensacola is a beautiful place to stop and appreciate |
| exhibit space, one of the most interesting displays is | | | | the world around you, have a fantastic seafood meal |
| the historical S-3 Viking jet which was used to | | | | and grab something uniquely Florida for the people |
| transport president George W. Bush to the USS | | | | back home. So come, enjoy and relax. |
| Abraham Lincoln in 2003 where he made his famous | | | | |